Gym will keep running whilst discount supermarket plans bigger store

by Lisa Reeves

Thursday 22nd June 2017

Thu 22nd Jun 2017

A Summerfields gym could be forced to close as a discount supermarket is in the process of purchasing the site.

Lidl have entered into a transaction with the current owner (Emerson) which commits them to purchasing the building and land opposite their existing Summerfield supermarket by October, which is currently leased by energie Fitness.

Lidl have informed energie their intention is then to apply for planning permission to knock down the building and develop a larger store, so if the planning application is successful energie will need to vacate the site.

Adrian Lee, manager of energie Fitness Wilmslow said "Recently we have been advised that the supermarket giant, Lidl, has approached our landlord with a view to purchasing the land. When the sale completes, Lidl will exercise a 'break clause' in our lease. Whilst this may eventually mean that we see a redevelopment on the site, there are several factors that will affect when or if this redevelopment goes ahead.

"Naturally any intentions to change the usage of the area will need to go through a planning permission process with the council – this process can take between 3-6 months, or potentially longer if objections are raised. If planning permission is granted, the club will be removed and the area will be redeveloped, possibly by the end of this year.

"If, however, objections are raised and further investigation is required, the redevelopment could be delayed into 2018. Finally, there is a chance that this change of use application may be rejected outright and therefore, our énergie club will 'sail on'!"

Adrian added "With all this in mind, our key message is that, for the foreseeable future, life in our énergie Fitness Club will continue as normal."

energie Group, which operates 103 sites across the country through franchises, has been in Wilmslow for over 20 years and Adrian Lee has had the franchise at Summerfields for more than a decade.

Jan Spaticchia, energie's Chairman and CEO said "This is a sad process for our franchisees, their staff, business partners within the club and all the members to deal with. We are doing all we can to support them at this time."

In the meantime local residents are getting together to fight Lidl's plans to relocate their existing store to the larger site.

Village Mews resident ‎Martin Kitchin said "This is worrying news for residents. Although a bigger store will be attractive for some shoppers, if the scheme goes to planning and is approved, the new store could be even closer to all our homes on Tiverton Drive, Colshaw Drive and Chamberlain Drive."

Concerned about the noise from delivery vehicles, light pollution, waste on the site, loss of privacy, loss of greenery, increased footfall from more customers and loss of a popular leisure facility neighbours are being urged to make contact with energie and Lidl in the hope of getting them to change their minds.

Martin added "The energie site might be commercial now but they're quiet as mice. A huge Lidl with a much bigger footfall, deliveries, more cars, waste shouldn't be embedded on three sides amongst homes. A completely different commercial.

"At least now it's in a row of shops and was there well before the first apartment was ever sold by Jones Homes in 2000. Big difference to what's afoot now.

"Surely affordable homes for key workers and locals with financial assistance would be far better‎?"

A spokesperson for Lidl told wilmslow.co.uk "Wilmslow is an important town for Lidl and is a very popular store in the local community. We'll be sure to update you directly, should there be any changes to our retail offering in the area."

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Jackie Pass

Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 1:09 pm

There must be something very tempting on offer for the freeholder to part with this site on a permanent basis - and all before October.

John Berry

Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 2:01 pm

How much room do Lidl require to increase their selling space, why then if they want to increase their selling space do they not look at the land at the side of the current store at present used for short stay carparking.
That carpark is only on certain days used to capacity, ask Lidl for the figures.
Aldi has a site located in Knutsford which is at present undergoing expansion and that is what they have done less impact on the area and you then do not end up with an empty store that becomes a problem to let.
Both Lidl and Aldi are undergoing a store expansion programme throughout the UK nothing wrong in that but local impact thought needs to considered.

Simon Worthington

Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 3:00 pm

My understanding of the law is that an owner can only end a lease if the intention is to use it for their own use and even then a long notice period is necessary.
Lidl need to think very carefully as a significant number of their weathier customers use Lidl when they use the gym.
Hopefully this will spur Aldi to take over either Sainsburys or Waitrose and then my gym will likely remain!!!!

Nik Eastwood

Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 3:28 pm

personally I use Lidl a lot, they sell things in my price range and the quality is very good for the price, the original Lidl store was made larger inside in the very early trading years when it first opened, it does seem small now compared with other Lidl stores I have been in.

I would welcome a larger store

But you have to then think what might become of the original store... what are the plans for that? will it be split into smaller units? another store - such as? can we have a Poundland?

Sarah Statham

Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 4:56 pm

This is awful news. I am a gym member plus I use the spa and hairdressers here. I feel particularly sorry for poor Millie who has just taken over the spa and is doing a great job. Please make sure we all know how to object to this plan. There are plenty of vacant sites in the area that would provide Lidl with an alternative. This is just a big player pushing smaller businesses out

Jackie Pass

Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 5:34 pm

Sarah - I suspect that there are several "big players" involved in this, - keep your eye on other local planning applications.

Lee Brown

Friday 23rd June 2017 at 6:59 am

Wilmslow was/is a nice place to live but it is dangerously getting to the point where in 5 yrs what with all the development of homes and large businesses planned it will become a gridlocked car park. It's ok building theses new houses etc but why are the basics not also being built...... doctors, schools, facilities for Leisure. Everywhere is full, you can not get an appointment and if you have kids every lesson or course is full it's getting beyond the joke. You never read or see a headline "two new doctors surgeries to be built" or "Secondary school gets the green light with planners"!!!!!! Time for CHESHIRE EAST to address these issues fast if they want to keep growing our town.

Rehana Hindle

Friday 23rd June 2017 at 11:46 am

Lidl is fine as it is, as they never have enough staff . Gym is a nice calming and community focused and keeps it residential looking
Frankly, wilmslow is looking tired,
Please east Cheshire have better and check that these gardening companies are doing their job as roundabout near King William pub is over grown with weeds and so it Ford garage roundabout and royal London bypass roundabound
Weeds near verges and in wilmslow main roads, near runway tunnels to, it used to be so well kept , not any more.
Cars allowed to park by police on Alderley road half on pavements and near carters arms and Holly Road North despite restrictions
No traffic wardens!!! East Cheshire are in process of getting some,, perhaps they don't want travel far the few we have.
Road sweepers came to Holly Road North last week and just distributed the dirt on the paths. Road so dirty and mess made by united utilities by digging up, its needs resurfacing, can't see East Cheshire sorting that one anytime soon

Parkway -paths so dirty and not cleaned on the side of Sainsbury's car park, Grass verges destroyed on Parkway
Clean up and employ better companies as you have no excuse ,
Don't get me on traffic in wilmslow which is stand still!!! at peak times.
The cleaning efforts made by volunteers not supported, as paid companies by east Cheshire are doing less and less
Perhaps our Tatton MP can on her next visit

Paul Roue

Sunday 25th June 2017 at 9:32 am

It would be such a shame to lose the gym on the Energie site. Apparently all of the trees and greenery will be taken away and not replaced. We received plans through the post this morning. The gym will be demolished and a bigger lidl store built. The trees etc.. will all disappear and there will be no greenery to soften the site for residents. The existing store is to be demolished and become car park which will leave an even bigger expanse of concrete around the stores left there. We need to fight and stop this going ahead. #saveourtrees. #stoplidl. #keepusgreen.

Jackie Pass

Sunday 25th June 2017 at 11:22 am

Paul - can you get the plans to Lisa to publish please? We have not been sent these plans. Thanks.

Gareth Caple

Monday 26th June 2017 at 9:28 am

I am a business owner within the club, and these rumours have been circulating for months, and I thought just that, that they were just rumours, but I received the news just minutes before the statement was released online.
The club allowed one business owner to invest £25,000 just a matter of months ago, another business has just recently moved to the club and spent time and money on an internal unit, and myself have my entire livelihood all in that one building, I have 2 children to support, my business partner also has two children one those been a new born baby, infact four out of the six businesses all have young children to take care of, I imagine Lidl know they will eventually get what they want otherwise an organisation like that would not have purchased the land.
But everyone associated with club, and the community need to pull together and ask the council to see sense!!
Their decision will impact negatively on traffic congestion, loss of greenery, loss of a community hub, loss of livelihoods, literally thousands of people from the local community of all ages benefit from everything that encompasses health and wellbeing, this is simply another case of a massive business steamrolling over smaller business's, wouldn't it be better if Lidl worked with the community, and built a new store while keeping or better still increasing the greenery, incorporating the current business in with the build.
At the very least give the business and members at least 12months to rally and try their hardest to find an alternative site?

John Waterhouse

Tuesday 27th June 2017 at 2:11 pm

Does anyone know please how to make an official to Lidl's planning application please?

John Waterhouse

Wednesday 28th June 2017 at 3:09 pm

I missed out the word 'complaint' after the word 'official' in my above post; I would like to raise one!!

Jackie Pass

Wednesday 28th June 2017 at 5:26 pm

John - when this proposed development gets a planning application number you look it up on the Cheshire East planning website. http://bit.ly/2bypcYD
This takes you to all the documents on the planning website and there is a form to submit any comments which you want to make.

Laurie Atterbury

Tuesday 1st August 2017 at 9:53 am

Lidl are expanding for one reason only.Tthey are not content with the current business from the community at Summerfields; they want to attract customers from the surrounding area which means yet more traffic and congestion.I know people travel to get to Energie but the volumes are not the same level as a much larger local “village" store. These large supermarkets have put our local shops and traders out of business and try to pretend they are part of the community when all they are interested in is profit and expanding their market share.We need to watch out for the planning application and all object; I certainly will.